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Rainbow world of coral reefs is turning white

Scientists say rising sea temperatures worldwide are causing more coral bleaching — the draining of color when the fragile animals that form reefs become stressed and spew out the algae that give coral its color and energy to build massive reef structures.
CORAL BLEACHING
** ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 1 ** In this photo released by Centre of Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, fish swim amongst bleached coral near the Keppel Islands in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, on Monday, Jan. 23, 2006. An international team of scientist's studying the world's reefs have warned that the latest bout of coral bleaching hitting Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which is caused by above average water temperature, could be as bad as the 2001-2002 period that affected 60 percent of the reef. (AP Photo/Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, HO)Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland
/ Source: The Associated Press

The rainbow world of the Great Barrier Reef may fade away.

Scientists say rising sea temperatures worldwide are causing more coral bleaching — the draining of color when the fragile animals that form reefs become stressed and spew out the algae that give coral its color and energy to build massive reef structures.

Oceans are also absorbing more carbon dioxide, increasing their acidity and eroding coral’s ability to build reef skeletons.

Because just a 2-degree-Fahrenheit shift can trigger a major bleaching event, the behavior of corals is an early sign that global warming is already changing our world, experts say.

“We’ve got about 20 years to turn (greenhouse gas emissions) around or it’s going to cost the world a lot environmentally but also economically,” said Terry Hughes, a leading Australian coral specialist.

The 1,250-mile-long Great Barrier Reef, off Australia’s northeast coast, produces $4 billion a year in tourism revenues. Forecasts vary, but many experts say ocean temperature rises projected for the next 50 years could strip this natural wonder of most of its color. The changes will affect countless millions of fish and other marine organisms that depend on the reef.

Many reefs worldwide will fare worse, since they don’t have the protection against pollution and overfishing provided by the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.